A week after Vikings tight end Jeff Dugan knocked down a guy in black and white while otherwise looking for folks in black and gold to block, the league is looking for ways to make the game more safe (or, perhaps more accurately, less unsafe) for the officials.
According to Charley Casserly of CBS, the league is considering the possibility of moving the umpire from his current spot behind the defensive line to a place behind the offensive line, across from the referee.
Apart from enhancing the safety of the umpire, Casserly pointed out that the move would make it easier to spot offensive holding.
The downside would be difficulties in spotting ball during the “hurry up” offense, challenges in spotting whether a ball carrier was down by contact before fumbling, identifying defensive holding, and policing the poking and prodding at the bottom of the pile.
The league hopes to make the game safer for all officials by reminding the teams that flags can be thrown — and fines can be imposed — on players who make “unnecessary contact” with officials.
“Clubs are reminded that Rule 12, Section 3, Article 1(g) of the NFL Playing Rules prohibits ‘unnecessary contact with a game official.’ Such contact is unsportsmanlike conduct, which is a 15-yard penalty,” the memo reads, per Casserly.
“Unnecessary contact may include, but is not limited to, such acts as blocking an opponent into an official, knocking an official to the ground while celebrating, or an avoidable collision with an official while running a pass pattern. Players should be advised that they are responsible for avoiding unnecessary contact with an official. Failure to do so may result in a penalty and/or fine.”
Players also should be penalized or fined if they allow themselves to get blown up by an official.
Make a “Dugan Rule” Way to go Jeff, he deserved it!! You are famous now!
If the officials keep blowing obvious calls, they may want to look at hiring them bodyguards for added protection. Bad calls against Ravens this week and Vikings last week are getting to common place in the NFL. Perhaps the officials are too busy looking after their own safety during a game to be doing their jobs.
Younger full time refs.
Cut the crap NFL, it’s past time for this.
I say bring back the old school helmets with the single bar. Those were the bomb!
Crybabies.
I’ve love seeing the ref’s get runover…lmao
Get younger, more athletic refs for the umpire position. Give them helmets and light pads.
It’s not like anyone’s been seriously hurt or anything–get back to us when one of these refs get hauled out on a stretcher or something!
Just what we need. The refs wearing something that impedes their already terrible vision during the games.